'Country Blues' Crayola Ad

Subject: 'Country Blues' Crayola Ad
From: khandu
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 01:07 AM

A Crayola Crayon TV commercial has the old fiddle tune "Carroll County Blues" playing in the background. (Some of the original may be heard HERE) This piece was written by fiddler Willie Narmour & guitarist Shell Smith from Carroll County, MS, who were acquaintances of Mississippi John Hurt. In fact, they were partly responsible for MJH being recorded in 1928.

I thought I was "hearing things" when I first watched the advertisement. It seems an odd piece to have chosen for the commercial, but it works.
I just wonder how it was chosen to be the one used.

However, the ad has me once again looking for Narmour& Smith recordings. I have found a couple of sites that offer them doing 3-4 of their tunes on compilation CDs, but that seems to be about it.

Are any of you aware of any existing copies of the complete recordings of the duo? I have written to Harry Bolick at the site I linked to above & I'm still awaiting a response.

Any info would be appreciated.

Ken

Subject: RE: 'Country Blues' Crayola Ad
From: RangerSteve
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 06:03 AM

As far as I know, you have to settle for bits and pieces on compilation CD's. Harry is a friend of mine, so if you don't get an answer soon, let me know and I'll ask him for you. He's pretty busy with his work.

I assume you tried Countysales.com. Their Mississippi CD's have a few Narmour and Smith tunes. I kind of remember seeing some others on another label. If I remember which one, I'll let you know.

Steve

Subject: RE: 'Country Blues' Crayola Ad
From: GLoux
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 11:34 AM

The Mississippi String Band CDs (Volumes One and Two) from County have the following Narmour and Smith recordings:

Carroll County Blues
Charleston #1
Captain George, Has Your Money Come?
Mississippi Breakdown
Sweet Milk and Peaches
Avalon Quickstep

Harry has a bunch more...he's the Mississippi Man...

-Greg

Subject: RE: 'Country Blues' Crayola Ad
From: khandu
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 11:45 AM

Thanks, Steve & Greg! BTW, I am a Mississippi man who lived several years in Carroll County, with Narmour & Smith and Mississippi John music all around me, but I never really knew them. I was too busy pursuing less meaningful stuff!

I am still waiting to hear from harry...I'll let you know, Steve, if I do not hear from him!

ken

Subject: RE: 'Country Blues' Crayola Ad
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 01:22 PM

You might try Document records in Scotland - formerly an Austrian company. They used to issue everything complete in chronological order in their blues series and started the same methods in their country series. They have issued some Mississippi material so give them a go. I'm sure they are on the web.

Hoot

Subject: RE: 'Country Blues' Crayola Ad
From: GLoux
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 01:48 PM

I had checked the Document records web site and looked at the Mississippi String Bands Volumes One and Two, and couldn't see any Narmour & Smith listed...

-Greg

Subject: RE: 'Country Blues' Crayola Ad
From: Stewie
Date: 25 Mar 05 - 08:04 PM

Even in the LP days, Narmour & Smith were ill-served with reissues. They didn't make it even to the Smith anthology. This is strange given that Narmour is regarded by many to be one of the finest fiddlers to record in the 1920s. Russell's discography indicates an output of some 48 sides, including a 1934 session for Bluebird issues of pieces previously recorded for Okeh. Whatever, their 30+ sides would make a great CD. Document may have plans for a further Mississippi stringbands volume, but there has not been any activity with their old-time 8000 series for a long time now - it seems to have ground to a halt with the Walter Smith reissues.

'Carroll County Blues' crops up in a number of old-time anthologies on CD, including the wonderful 'White Country Blues' on Columbia/Legacy. In addition to the sides on the County Mississippi volumes indicated by Greg above, there are 4 sides on a BACM anthology - 'Okeh Label: Classic Old-Time Music' BACM CD D 050: CLICK. Bear in mind that BACM issues are CDRs.

'Dry Gin Rag'
'Texas Breakdown'
'Tequila Hop Blues'
'Texas Shuffle'

There are a couple of others on the fine collection of jake leg pieces on Jass: Various Artists 'Jake Leg Blues' Jass J-CD-642.

'Limber Neck Rag'
'Jake Leg Rag'

I cannot recall any, but there possibly could be a track or two in the Yazoo 2000 series compilations.

--Stewie.